Packing for rotary engines and compressors



H. 8. WHITE AND A; B. BOYER. PACKING FOR ROTARY ENGINES AND COMPRESSORS.

APPLICATIQN FILED DEC. 29. I919.

' Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

INVENTORS. HENRY 5 WHITE ALEXANDER 5. Bursa ATTORNEY.

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE...

HENRY 3 WHITE, OF CHIQAGO, AND ALEXANDER B. BOYER, OF'RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR S, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN ROTARY EN- GINE C0,, OF GRAND BABID WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

PACKING non, ROTARY nemies AND COMPRESSORS.

Application filed. December 29,1919. Serial No. 347,897.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, HENRY S. WHITE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and ALEXANDE B. Born, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago and Riverside, respectively, in'the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Packings for Rotary Engines and Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

ur invention relates to an improved form of packing for the rotary piston or inner elementin a device of the class comprised of rotary engines, compressors and the like where the inner element which may be called a rotor or piston moves relatively to amenclosing casing under the action of fluid under pressure or for the purpose of compressing or pumping fluid and the like. By our invention we provide an improved means by which the outer surface of the rotor or inner member maybe made fluid tight relatively to the inner surface of the casing and also means by which the end walls of the inner member may be made fluid tight relatively to the end walls of the casing.

In the present case we show a form of compressor merely as a means of illustrating the use of our improved packing devices, which compressor per se forms no part of our present invention and is not herein claimed; it will be understood that our packing is equally applicable to any device of the class illustrated by the compressor herein shown as long as said device functions by relative lateral movement of an inner member in an enclosing casing under conditions where two Variable compartments are formed between the casing and the inner member which must be separated ina manner to preserve a difference of fluid pressure between them. I

Our invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof in which Fig. 1 shows a compressor in transverse sectional view to show the packing device in place on the inner member of said compressor,

Fig. 2 is a' longitudinal sectional View Sp fi a Patented Mar. 21,1922.

through the casing of the device shown in outer element to show the construction and location of the packing elements on the inner member of the compressor, this view being taken along the line' 3+3 in Fig.1,

and r Fig. 4 shows in a view similar-to Fig. 3 a modified construction of inner member permitting the use of part of our packing devices to accomplish the function intended of packing the ends of the inner member against the corresponding end walls of the construction.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

The construction'of the compressor shown in the drawings, consists of'a cylindrical casing having end walls 1 and a cylindrical shell 2 bored internally to engage thelcooperating parts contained in the casing. The casing has PIOJBCtlDg inwardly and radially from its/outer wall a diaphragm l which is rigidly secured to the'casing. A rotor 5 is disposed eccentrically in the casing and consists of a cylindrical member mounted on a suitable shaft 6. The rotor 5 is provided with a recess for receiving the diaphragm 4: and suitable guide plates 8 and 9 mounted on either side of the diaphragm supported upon bearing pins or rods 16, which con st'ruction permits a slight degree of angular motion of the diaphragm relatively to the rotor as the device is operated.

The shaft 6 '1 and the ends of thecompressor are provided with suitable bearings not shown for supporting the parts to maintain'the eccentric relation shown in Fig. land in the particular construction of the device illustrated in the drawings both the casing and the rotor are arranged to rotate in the direction of the arrowby suitable means as a result of which the compartments 10 and 11 on either side of the diaphragm 4t areincrea'sed and decreased in size'to draw in air through the portl8 and expel it through the port 20 and check valve 22; The port 18 communicates with a bore 19 in one end of the shaft 6 and bore 24 through the other end of the'shaft 6,

the bores in the shaft being separated from each other.

The relation between the rotor and the casing is such that the rotor is practicallyin contact with or tangent to the'inner cylindrical surface of the casing along the lower longitudinal element of the rotor, being separated therefrom slightly. to prevent friction and wear. I

To prevent leakage of air under pressure we provide packing devices as follows: In each end of the rotor 5, we form edge grooves for receiving flat packing rings 12 of metal, resting against the inner surfaces of the ends of the casing, and within the rings 12 said grooves are extended towards each. other with relatively converging inclined faces to receive split metal contraction rings 13, similar in nature to piston rings ordinarily used in engine construction, the differences .being that said rings tend to contract instead of expand and that they are of triangular cross section instead of rectangular. The inner converging edge surfaces of the rings 13. closely fitthe corresponding surfaces of the grooves provided to receive them and the outer vertical edge surfaces of said rings 13 closely fit. the inner vertical faces of the rings 12. Asa result of this construction, the tendency of the rings 13 to contract exerts an axial thrust upon the rings 12 forcing them outwardlyto closely fit the inner surfaces of the endsof the casing. To prevent leakage from the compartment 11 to the compartment 10 through the tangent point between the compressor elements, we provide longitudinal grooves of T-shaped cross section in the cylindrical surface of the rotor 5to receive baflle bars 14 ofisimilar cross section, the relation between the bars and slots being such that said bars are incapable of circumferential movement in said slots but'may slide freely therein radially within limits to permit the bars when in their outermostpo;

.sition tohave a radius somewhat greater than the minimum distance between the axis of the motor and the inner cylindrical surface of the casing. This results in; a. plurality of said bars at all time engaging said inner cylindrical surface at the point of tangency of said. rotor with said surface. The

inner surfaces of the bars 14 when said bars are passing said tangent point, are ust clear 7 of the outer surfaces of the rings 13, while the rings 12 are continued outwards radially beyond the rings 13 so that their outer diameter is substantially the same as the. diameter ofthe body of the rotor. The grooves for receiving the rings13 are of substantially the same size and shape as said rings, that is to say said grooves do not extend outwards radially beyond sald rings, and the -T-shaped grooves referred to arecontinued of uniform cross section through the body of the rotor 5 and-also through the rings 12. The bars 1 1 are of substantially the same length as the dimension between the inner vertical faces of the casing, and we provide in each barone or more radial holes l l" so that the back faces of the bars will at all times be subjected to the same unit fluld pressure as their outer faces are subjected to. The grooves for the rings 13 open into the grooves for the bars 14: and thus the outer faces of the rings 13 are subjected to the same unit fluid pressure as are the inner faces of the bars 14. The initial tension on the rings 13 when placed in their grooves is sufficient to overcomethe effect of the cen. trifugal force to be imparted to them and to positively hold the rings. 12against the end surfaces of the casing to prevent leakage for low pressure in the compartment 11 when the. pressure of the fluid in compartment 11 is increased the pressure is correspondingly increased back of each bar 14in said con p'artment and also on the outer face of. each ring 13. For high pressure machines therefore, the initial tension in the rings 13 may be madevery light, or even reduced to'zero,

and each ring may consist of several sec:- tions, the. better to provide for contractlon, since an ncrease 1n pressure incompartment "l1 and the consequent"increase of pressure on -the' outer cylindricalfaces of rings 13 provides the necessary tendency in the rings 13 to contract and to exert axial 'pressure on rings 12. The amount ofthis axial thrust is regulatedby the degree of inclination of the inner edgefaces of rings 13 andiof the facesof their supporting grooves. The bars l l have the fluid pressurc'balanced on their inner and outer faces and by rcason'of. the

centrifugal force imparted to them in thorotation of the machine they are during the operation of the machine continually held in their out-er or packing position. Asthey approach the point of tangcncy of the-inner I and outer membeli'sthcir outer ,facescoine into contact with the inner face of. the outer .member or casinganil when in this position the pressure of thcfluid on theirouter faces 1s wholly or partly relieved so that the fluid pressure on tl'ieirinncr faces will hold them firmly in contact with the saidjinner fact" of saidouter member Thus the seal between rlngs 12 and the inner end walls oi the outer casing member, thesealbetweer rings'13 and rings 12, the seal between'rings 13 and the grooves in the inner rotating member, and the seal between the bars .14 and the inner circumferential surface ofthe outer rotating member all become more effec tive asthe fluid pressure incompartmentl increases.

m lo 4 time .Of

.b m ris g a a km n w of ea c een ree tyue en t e e r p vid a wa by w l he P essu e 1 1 1 h pa mg yaries in pro 113101 1 to the requirements of difierent con itions of .operation of the device, .thus eliminating unnecessary packing pressure and. its. incident friction and Wear when lowv fluid' pressures are developed.

In certain cases, as for example Where low pressures only are developed, the bars 14 and rings 12 ma. be dispensed with and a st u t i wn in E gmay b e ployed. In case grooves of triangular cross section are a n a in the outer edges of the end faces of the 5 to receiye the rings l 3 1w;hich bear directly against the inner surfaces o f theends of the casing. In other .respects theicdnstructionvmay be the same as above described. In this case as before, the pressure of the rings against the ends of the casin gwill .yary with the fluid oed la m- V a i h tar a m t l- Anz Tam-a rfo a cylind i i ring carried by the l acontraotion ring carried by and engaging said r k n a to prqduc axi Pressure on sa ne k n rin y the inwar y d e ra i rre s r b sa d-eenme r .2- An e d aqk i i re y i d c m mber vcomprising "a at metal packing ring carried by the end of said member, and a triangular metal contraction ring carried by id'mem e a d en in sa Pa in ring to produce axial i ressure on said packing ringb theinward ydirected radialpressure of said contraction ring. j

n nd Pa n fo a y d ca e ber comprising a packing ring carried by the end of said member, and a contraction ringcarried by said member and engaging d pee ng 1 1.1 g to produ aax a p essur on said packing ring by the inwardly directed radial pressure of said contraction ring, said contraction ring -forming a fluid tight fit withsaid =1 nember and said packing r ng.

4. An end packing for a cylindrical member comprising a fiat metal packing ring carried the end Oi isaidrmembe'r, ,andatriangularcontgraction ring carried by andien'gagingsaid packing ring to produce axial pressure onsaid packing ring bytheinwardly directed radial pres- ,Sureof said contraction ring, said contraction ring 'forming a fluid tight fit with said Inemberiand said packing. ring. 7

5. An end packing for a cylindrlcal member comprising a packingring carried bythe end of said member, and a contractionring carr ed by s'ald member and engaging said packing ring to produce axial pressure on said packing ring by the inwardly directed radial pressure of saidcontraction ring, and said contraction ring forming a fluid tight fit with said member and said packing ring, said contracting ring being subjected to the fluid pressure of the device,v whereby said inwardly directed radial pressure varies with said fluid pressure.

6.. An end packing for .a cylindricalmemberQcomprising a flat .metalmpacking ring carried by theend of said member; andfa triangular inetal contraction ring carried by said member and engaging said packing ring topro'du ce axial pressure on said packing ring by the inwardly directed radialpressure ,of i said contraction ring, said contraction ring arming a flui d tight fit With I said nieim ber. and said packing ring, -sai d contracting ring being subjected ,to the fluid pressure .of the device/whereby said "inwardly dirooted radial pressure varies with said fluid pressure" angular-metal contractionring carried ,by said member and engaging sa d pack ng ring to produce axial pressure ;on said packing ring b the inwardly directed radialpressure or saidvcontractlon-ring, the triangular section of said contraction ring hayingits base outermost and an inclined: face for enaging l m mb 8.-A packing for a cylindrical member comprising an end packing ring, longitudinal baflle bars of uniform cross sectlonextending through corresponding slots in said 7 end packing fora'cylindricalmemjber compr1s1nga flat metal packing ring carriedl by' the end lof said member, and a ring, and a contraction ringinsideyof said bars between said :jpacking ring and said member for producing an outward ax al thrust on said packing ring zbycontraction o-fsaid contraction ring.

9. A packing for a cylindrical member comprising an end packing ring, longitudina-l bafile (bars ot-uniform crosssection extend ng :thl'OHgll,C-OlI'ESPOnCllDg slots 111 said ring, and a contraction ring lnside of sa d.

bars between sai'dpacking iring and: said member for producing an outward axial thrust on said-packing ring by contraction of said contraction ring, said barszhaving apertures producing equal unit fluid pressureon theouter and inner surfaces of said bars and on the outer surface of saidcontraction ring;

10. An end packing for a cylindrical member having a circular end groove comprising a metal contraction ring for placement in said grooveandhavinga cross section producing axial movement of said ring upon radial contraction thereof,

11. An end packing for a cylindrical memher having a circular end recess having an-inclined edge face and of increasing width outwardly comprising a split metal contraction rin having outwardly diverging edge faces to t the inclined edge face of said recess and the casing containing said member.

12. An end packing for a cylindrical member having acircular end recess comprising a metalpacking ring anda split metal contraction ring for placement in said recess, said split ring being restrained when in place and tending to decrease its radial dimensions, said rin shaving cooperating cross sections producing outward axial movement of said packing ring upon a decrease in the radial dimensions of said split ring.

13. A packing for a device havinga hollow casing with substantially parallel inner end surfaces and winner member having substantially parallel end walls adjacent V said innerend surfaces and adapted tomovement laterally in said casing comprising end packingrings of metalto be carried by said memberto engage said inner slnfifaces and low casing wit split metal contraction rings to begcarried by said member between it and said packing rings, said split rings being restrainedradially whenin place and tending to contract radiallZ to move said packingring'sapart.

I 14. packin for a device having a holsubstantially parallel inher end surfaces and an inner member having substantially parallel end .walls adjacent said inner end surfaces and adapted to movement laterallyin said casing comprising end packing rings of metal tobe carriedbysaid member to engage said inner surfaces and split triangular metal contraction rings with their bases outermost to be carried by said member between it and said packing rings, said split rings being restrained radiall when in place and tending to contract ra iall to move said packing rings apart.

15. packing for a device having ahollow casing with substantially parallel inner end surfaces and an inner member having substantially parallel end wallsadjacent said inner end surfaces and adapted to movement laterally in'said casing and having end grooves with outwardly converging end walls comprising flatend packing rings of metal and split metal rings engaging said packing rings and having inner outwardly converging edge surfaces, said split rings be ing restrained radially when in place and itendin to move inwardly and apart.

16. i packing for a device havlng a hollow cylindrical casing with substantially parallel inner end surfaces'and an inner cylindrical member having substantially parallel e'n'd walls adjacent said inner end surfaces and adaptedto movement laterally in said casing and having longitudinal grooves in' its cylindrical surface and end grooves comprising baffle barsflfitting said longitudinal grooves "circumferentially and having limited motion therein radlally,

metal packing rings'an'd split metal contraction rings for placement in said'end grooves, said bars being of uniform cross section through corresponding slots in said packing rings and said split rings' engaging" said packing rings andsaid endgrooves within said bars'and havinglncllned edge faces and restrainedwhen in place and tending to move inwardly tofmovei said packing rings said bars beingrof uniform cross section through corresponding slots in said packing rings and said split rings engagingsaidpacki'ng rings and saidendgrooves Within said bars and having inclined edg'e faces [and restrained whenfin'place and 'tending to move inwardly tofmove said'packing' rings apart,

said bars having apertures through them to produce'equal nnit :fliiid pressure on their outer and -1nner:surfacesand on the outer circumferential surfaces of said split rings.

' 18. A'packing for -a'devicehaving a hollow" cylindrical casing with substantially parallel inner end surfaces and an inner cylindrical member/having" substantially parallel end wallsadjacent' said inner end surfaces and "adapted to moveme'ntlaterally in said casing andT'having" longitudinal grooves in its cylindrical surface and end groovesha'ving' outwardly converging edge surfaces comprislng'baflle bars of unifornr T-shaped cross se'ction', flatf metal packing rings and split metal contraction-rings for placement in said end grooves fin ehgagement with eachother, said packing rings having slots 'receiving the "ends'j' of said bars and said split-rings being within said bars, said bars fitting said longitudinal grooves and said slots circumferentially and having limited movement therein radially, said split rings having outwardly converging inner edge surfaces for engaging the corresp'onding edge surfaces of said end grooves and tending when in place to move inwards radially and from each other to move said packing rings apart.

19. A packing for a device having a hollow cylindrical casing with substantially parallel inner end surfaces and an inner cylindrical member having substantially parallel end Walls adjacent said inner end surfaces and adapted to movement laterally in said casing and having longitudinal grooves in its cylindrical surface and end grooves having outwardly converging edge surfaces comprising baffle bars of uniform T-shaped cross section, flat metal packing rings and split metal contraction rings for placement in said end grooves in engagement with each other, said packing rings having slots receiving the ends of said bars and said split rings being within said bars,

said bars fitting said longitudinal grooves and said'slots circumferentially and having limited movement therein radially, said split rings having outwardly converging inner edge surfaces for engaging the correspond ing edge surfaces of said end grooves and tending when in place to move inwards radially and from each other to move said packing rings apart, said bars having apertures through them to produce equal unit fluid pressure on the outer and inner surfaces of said bars and on the outer circumferential surfaces of said split rings.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this th day of December, A. D. 1919.

HENRY S. WHITE.

ALEXANDER B. BOYER. 

